Portulacaria afra
Elephant's Food, Elephant Bush
Description
This interesting succulent has an irregular growth habit. Depending on pruning and cold, Elephant's Food can be grown as a groundcover or shrub to 12' tall and wide. Plants work very well in containers, and can be used indoors or outdoors. It is drought tolerant but needs some protection from frost. It does best with some shade in most arid climates; otherwise, it tolerates full sun. This plant is a native of South Africa. Tiny lavender flowers bloom in summer only if the winter has been dry; not much irrigation needed for this plant.
Plant Type
Shrub, Ground cover, Succulent
Height Range
6-12'
Flower Color
Lavender
Flower Season
Summer
Leaf Color
Green, Dark Green, Light Green
Bark Color
n/a
Fruit Color
n/a
Fruit Season
n/a
Sun
Full, Half, Shade
Water
Low
Growth Rate
Moderate, Slow
Soil Type
Sandy, Clay, Loam, Rocky, Unparticular
Soil Condition
Average, Poor, Well-drained, Dry
Soil pH
Neutral, Basic
Adverse Factors
n/a
Design Styles
Japanese, Spanish, Tropical, Water Garden
Accenting Features
Unusual Foliage, Unusual Shape
Seasonal Interest
Summer
Location Uses
Entry, Indoor, Patio, Raised Planter, Swimming Pool, Walkways, With Rocks
Special Uses
Cascade, Container, Filler, Mass Planting, Small Spaces, Hanging Baskets
Attracts Wildlife
n/a
Change spray sprinklers to low-flow bubbler or drip systems. Shrubs and trees are ideal candidates for this type of irrigation because the water is applied directly to the root zones.